ECOWAS Leaders Release Communique on Lagos -Abidjan Highway Design Project

The Heads of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)member states met on Saturday in Lagos to finalise and approve the design for the Lagos -Abidjan Highway Development project and release a communique as the construction of project is scheduled to commence in 2025.

The meeting tagged 21st Experts and Ministerial Steering Committee held in Lagos was chaired by Nigeria’s Minister of Works, Sen. Engr. David Umahi.

The Communique read inter alia:

1. The twenty-first (21^st) meeting of the Steering Committee of the Abidjan-Lagos Corridor Highway Development Project was held on September 21, 2024 in Lagos, Nigeria. The Steering Committee comprises the Honourable Ministers in charge of Road Infrastructure, established by the Heads of State and Government of the Corridor Countries through the Corridor Treaty signed on March 3, 2014, to oversee the implementation of the project.
2. The 21^st Steering Committee meeting reviewed the progress of project implementation, in particular, expediting the completion of technical studies, financing of the construction and operationalization of the Abidjan-Lagos Corridor Management Authority (ALCoMA). The meeting also considered the level of implementation of the conclusions of the 20^th meeting of the Steering Committee held on December 15, 2023, in Cotonou, Benin.
3. The 21^st Meeting of the Steering Committee was attended by the Ministers in charge of Road Infrastructure (or their representatives) of the Corridor Member States as follows:

• Republic of Benin
• Republic of Côte d’Ivoire
• Republic of Ghana
• Federal Republic of Nigeria
• Togolese Republic

 

4. Representatives of the following institutions also took part in the meeting:
   1. ECOWAS Commission
   2. ECOWAS Project Preparation and Development Unit (PPDU)
   3. ECOWAS Bank for Investment & Development (EBID)
   4. African Development Bank (AfDB)
   5. Abidjan Lagos Corridor Organization (ALCO)
   6. Africa Finance Corporation
   7. Lagos State Administration

 

5. The Project Directors and Engineers of the Corridor Member States also participated in the meeting.
6. The opening ceremony was marked by the following statements:
   1. Welcome Speech by Sédiko DOUKA, Commissioner of Infrastructure, Energy and Digitalization of the ECOWAS Commission.
   2. Brief Speech on behalf of Development Partners by Lydie EHOUMAN, African Development Bank (AfDB).
   3. Short Statements from:
7. Hon. Francis ASENSO-BOAKYE, Minister of Roads and Highways, Ghana
8. Dr. Amédé Koffi KOUAKOU, Minister of Equipment and Road Maintenance, Côte d’Ivoire

• Mr. Sani YAYA, Minister of Public Works, Togo

1. Hon. José Didier TONATO, Minister of Living Environment and Transport in charge of Sustainable Development, Benin Represented by Mr. Omonladé Hodonou Sourou Jacques AYADJI

 

1. The Opening Address was delivered by Engr David UMAHI, Minister of Works, Nigeria and Chairman of the Steering Committee.

7. The Commissioner for Infrastructure, Energy and Digitalization welcomed the new appointed Ministers from Ghana and Togo to their first Project Steering Committee meeting. He reiterated the project’s pivotal role eliminating tariff and non-tariff barriers, promoting free movement of people, goods and services across the region. He also updated the meeting of the ECOWAS Commission’s efforts to advance the project. The Commissioner extended his gratitude to the Government of Côte d’Ivoire for providing office and other facilities to host ALCoMA, the authority established by Heads of State and Government to manage and develop the corridor project. He reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to accelerating the operationalization of ALCOMA in Abidjan.
8. The AfDB representative thanked the ECOWAS Commission for its leadership in driving the project. She emphasized the support of the Bank to the project especially during the critical periods of the project such as the COVID-19 and the mobilization of complimentary resource to complete the necessary resources for the project components. The representative affirmed that the project holds high-level priority within the Bank’s management and urged ECOWAS and the Countries to fast-track the completion of the studies to enable the financing and procurement to commence.
9. Talking in turns, the Honourable Ministers conveyed the strong and unwavering commitment of their respective Governments to the successful implementation of the Abidjan-Lagos Corridor Project. They underscored the strategic significance of the project as a flagship regional initiative that promises significant economic and social transformation. The Ministers highlighted the progress made so far in the technical studies, the commencement of the ALCOMA and reaffirmed their firm commitment to ensure its set up and operationalization. The Ministers noted progress by Member States in protecting their respective Right of Way reservations. They stressed the need to resolve any remaining barriers, expedite pending activities, secure the necessary financing, and commence construction.
10. The Chairman of the Steering Committee conveyed the warm greetings and full support of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Chairman of ECOWAS, His Excellency Sen. Bola Ahmed TINUBU (GCFR). He highlighted Nigeria’s commendable achievements in advancing the project and reaffirmed the President’s commitment to the Abidjan-Lagos project. He also referenced similar legacy projects underway by the Nigerian government, such as the Lagos-Calabar coastal road and the Badagry-Sokoto highways, which feature modern facilities and are intended to operate as toll roads.
11. He reiterated the Steering Committee’s determination to overcome the challenges associated with the project, including the establishment and operationalization of the ALCoMA. The Ministers thanked the Development and financing partners in attendance, particularly the two main Development Partners (the African Development Bank and the European Union) for their continued support and commitment to the effective implementation of the project. They called upon other partners present to support the completion of outstanding activities, ensuring the successful realization of the project.
12. The Ministerial meeting focused on the following Agenda items:
    • Consideration and adoption of the 21^st Experts Committee Meeting Report held from September 16 to 20, 2024.
    • Other Matters and next meeting.

Consideration of the report of the 21^st meeting of the Committee of Experts

13. The chairman of the Committee of Experts, Ebere IZUNOBI, presented the report of the Experts’ meeting to the Steering Committee. Following deliberations on the report, the Steering Committee adopted the recommendations of the report and concluded as follows:

Status of the Project Components

1. Feasibility and Detailed Design Studies
2. The Steering Committee noted the Detailed Design Study report as a working document considering the revisions required on elements such as the cost per kilometre, pavement choices and financing options. The final approval will be granted on the reception of the revised reports which considers all comments made by Member States and ECOWAS.
3. In this regard, they urged ECOWAS to ensure that the Consultants submit all Revised Engineering Design Reports by December 2024 as agreed at the technical validation workshop.

 

16. The Steering Committee took note of the urgency required to finalize the tunnel study by the end June, 2025. They commended the ECOWAS Commission for financing the Feasibility and Preliminary Design Study of the Tunnel from its internal funds.
17. Member States will review the cost estimate proposed by the design consultants bearing in mind the national construction rates on similar projects in the countries with a view to finding an optimal total project cost.
18. On the possibility of using PPP financing for sections of the highway, the Ministers noted that the Phase 4 Reports on “Financing and Implementation Strategy” will clearly outline the financing options (Public, Private, PPP, etc.) for each section of the Corridor highway.
19. ECOWAS will organize a virtual meeting of the Steering Committee, as well as technical and financing partners, to consider the financial and implementation options as well as available financing facilities from development financing institutions and private financiers for the construction.
20. The meeting outcome will enable the Ministers to advise the Heads of State and Government to make an informed decision on the best financing approach for their respective project sections.
21. Corridor Management “Operationalization of ALCoMA”
22. The Steering Committee took note of the progress made in the provision of hosting facilities, strategy for the commencement of ALCoMA, and the preparation of a draft Headquarters Agreement. Member States will provide their comments on the draft Headquarters Agreement to the ECOWAS Commission by October 4, 2024. The Commission will send the revised Document to the Government of Cote d’Ivoire by October 11, 2024, for the finalization of the Agreement.
23. The Steering Committee agreed to amend the Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) to remove any ambiguity in the criteria regarding the Public Sector nominee. In this regard, Member States shall submit proposed amendments or changes to the IGA to the ECOWAS Commission. A revised Intergovernmental Agreement will be considered and validated by the Steering Committee.
24. Based on the amendment, Member States will then revalidate their nominees for the ALCoMA Board and re-submit to the ECOWAS Commission. The Steering Committee will then inaugurate the ALCoMA Board virtually.
25. The Steering Committee approved the proposed schedule annexed to the Experts Meeting report for the establishment of ALCoMA.

 

1. Other matters
2. Considering that the AfDB and other partners have affirmed commitment to provide concessionary and non-concessionary financing to contribute to the construction of the highway, ECOWAS and the Corridor Countries will organize preliminary financing meetings with AfDB, EBID, AFC and other financiers on raising the necessary financing for the construction of the corridor highway following the completion of the Design Studies.

Next meeting

26. The next Steering Committee meeting will be held in December 2024 in the Togolese Republic. ECOWAS Commission will consult the Chairman and the Sector Minister from the host Country, to determine the exact dates.

Closing

27. The Ministers expressed their deepest gratitude to His Excellency Bola Ahmed TINUBU, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for graciously hosting the meeting and saluted his leadership and commitment, as Chairman of ECOWAS, to achieving regional integration and interconnectivity, economic prosperity and peace for all community citizens. They acknowledged with thanks the facilities and warm hospitality extended to all participants by Sen. Engr. Nweze David UMAHI, Honourable Minister of Works.
28. The Ministers commended the President of the ECOWAS Commission and the Commissioner for Infrastructure, Energy, and Digitalization for their remarkable initiative in financing the Feasibility and Preliminary Design Study of the Tunnel using internal funds.
29. In conclusion, the Chairman of the Steering Committee expressed gratitude to his fellow Ministers for their collaborative spirit and pertinent contributions during the meeting’s deliberations. He extended gratitude to the experts and development partners for their respective roles in ensuring the meeting’s success
30. Lastly, the Chairman expressed his confidence that the agreements and decisions taken will significantly contribute to the development of a robust and interconnected corridor highway infrastructure that will serve as the backbone for regional economic growth and integration of our people.